Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) has taken a stand against a bill concerning border control that was introduced by Democrats. The bill, which carries a hefty price tag of $118 billion, has been under fire from critics who believe it is a ploy to secure President Joe Biden’s re-election, should he face former President Donald Trump in the 2024 elections.
McConnell has reportedly appealed to his fellow Republican senators behind closed doors, urging them to reject the bill. His advice comes as opposition mounts among the Republican ranks, with many senators expressing strong disagreement with the legislation.
Andrew Desiderio, a reporter, shared some insights about McConnell’s position on the bill. He noted that McConnell’s primary concern is not the negotiation process, but rather how the political climate in the country has shifted. McConnell encouraged his colleagues to vote against moving forward with the bill, citing this shift in public sentiment.
The bill also faced opposition from top House Republicans who declared it would not pass in the lower chamber. Key figures such as House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA), Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-MN), and Chairwoman Elise Stefanik (R-NY) jointly dismissed the bill.
The statement from these leaders pointed out what they saw as the bill’s numerous shortcomings. They argued that the bill fails to address key policy areas needed to secure the border and would only encourage more illegal immigration. The bill’s provision for work authorizations for illegal aliens and lack of asylum reforms were particularly criticized.
Furthermore, they took issue with the bill’s endorsement of the Biden administration’s ‘catch and release’ policy, which allows illegal immigrants to be released from physical custody. They also criticized the bill’s ‘shutdown’ authority as being full of loopholes, granting too much power to Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, whom they believe has abused his authority to keep the border open.
The House leaders ended their statement by appealing to the Senate to reject the bill, branding it as ‘DEAD on arrival’. They stressed that any consideration of the bill in its current form would be a waste of time, emphasizing the stakes for America’s sovereignty.
